Things to consider before taking on a blogging challenge

If you’ve been in the blogging world for any amount of time, it’s likely that you’ve stumbled across someone talking about or taking part in blogmas or blogtober, a month-long blogging challenge that requires you to post every day for a month (obviously). I’m not quite sure of the technicalities of each one (like if it’s critical that all blogmas posts have to be Christmas related) but you get my gist. Thousands of bloggers take part in these challenges every year and I tip my metaphorical hat to anyone that even attempts it.

I no longer take part in blogging challenges like these because personally, I don’t find any benefit from doing them. I blogged every day in June a couple of years ago and swore I’d never do anything like it again, only to find myself swept up in the blogtober hype a few months later and doing that one too.

But after that little foray into the world of blogging challenges, I don’t think I’d ever do one again and I wish I had taken more time to consider it before I jumped into it both times because I learnt a lot from doing them. They’re big challenges. They take a bloody lot of hard work, effort and dedication there’s no two ways about it.

So if you’re thinking about embarking on a blogging challenge this year and you haven’t done one before, here are some things that might be worth considering before you do.

Do you have enough ideas for the whole month?

Coming up with 30 or 31 ideas in a short space of time is really hard and definitely something to consider before you start. If you tend to only post on your blog twice a week and only really come up with enough ideas for that amount of content (which is fine), then 30 different posts is going to be tough.

I’m not saying you’re not creative and have the ideas there but when the pressure is on to come up with those ideas, that can be when we struggle to think of them the most (like when you’re trying so hard to think of an actors name and as soon as you stop thinking about it, that’s when you remember).

Quality over quantity

Will all your posts be of their highest quality, even though you’ll be posting every single day and won’t have as much time to dedicate to each one? If I’ve learnt anything over the last year, it’s that quality over quantity is key.

Are you doing it to increase your stats?

Which leads nicely to this point, quantity doesn’t always equate to higher stats. Is your aim for doing a month long blogging challenge to increase your page views or your followers? If it is, maybe consider researching other techniques to increase your views and your following before doing such a big challenge. I talk about increasing your following in my eBook!

Is it going to affect you mentally and drain you? Is it worth it?

Blogging can be stressful at the best of times so it’s worth considering whether the extra stress of making sure you get a post up every day is worth the potential strain it may have on you mentally. Of course this isn’t the case for everyone and some people post every day anyway, challenge or no challenge and it has no impact on them mentally at all. But I remember it did for me, so I can only assume it will for others too.

Are you doing it because your blogger friends are doing it?

Are you doing it because you really want to do it? Or are you only doing it because your blogging friends are and you want that camaraderie with them over it? Will your quality suffer if you feel like you’re only doing it ‘for the sake of it’?

Will you be disappointed and frustrated with yourself if you don’t complete it?

And finally, this is something that will be very individual to each person but I know for a fact that if i hadn’t have completed blogtober when I did it, I would have beaten myself up terribly because of it. Fortunately that’s not the case now but back then, I was incredibly hard on myself. When we set out to do something, not completing it can sometimes have a really bad, negative impact on our state of mind. If that’s you, maybe have a think before diving into it.

Have you ever taken part in blogmas, blogtober or any other blogging challenge? How did you find it? Did you complete it? Did you run into any problems? Let me know!

97 Comments

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This is an excellent post!
I found that Blogtober was a lot of fun, and it’s the first (and only?) time I’ve completed a challenge haha. I did get a lot of extra traffic, but only a little of that stuck around.
Cora | http://teapartyprincess.co.uk/

I took part in Blogmas in 2017 but I despised the pressure I put on myself. If you can produce loads of quality content then kudos to you, but I personally struggle to write a bulk load of quality posts

I haven’t done a blogging challenge before b/c I know I wouldn’t have the time to write 30 or so posts & it would be too stressful as well.
I do admire anyone who does a blogging challenge b/c I know it’s not something I could do

This is such a good post – it’s definitely a side of things that no one mentions when they plan these big sessions. I’d rather plan about 10 weeks with 3 posts a week than use up all my ideas – and probably put myself under loads of pressure with reviews – just for the sake of getting them up quickly. Totally think I’d burn out. I’ve only ever half-considered them before but having read this, I’m certain it’s not something for me. Great post!

I think this post offers such good advice for those considering blogging challenges. I’ve been blogging since 2015 and I’ve never taken part in a blogging challenge because I know I couldn’t hack it. I think I’d struggle with coming up with enough ideas, and even if I didn’t, my perfectionistic personality would come out and stop me in my tracks within a couple of days. I truly admire those who are able to manage it, and I think some bloggers are able to do it fantastically, in such a way that their quality doesn’t suffer under the quantity at which they’re posting, but I know personally I’d never be able to do it. I think the pressure to take part is sometimes a lot, especially if you’re involved in the blogging community online, so I love that this post sends the message that it’s okay it you sit them out.

I only do blogmas, I’ve done it twice, but I don’t necessarily listen to the only blog about Christmas rule. It is harder to blog each day, but I have enjoyed them. I couldn’t do more than that one per year though

I’ve attempted it before and I found that I became resentful of the challenge for taking the fun out of blogging. It became more of a chore for me than I wanted writing to be. While the camaraderie is a complete benefit, I became one cranky blogger! Great post!

I admire any blogger that does any of those challenges. I know full well that I would never be able to commit to that. It’s far too much pressure for me to put on myself when I don’t need it.I really don’t know how people do it!

I did Blogtober in my first year of blogging back in 2016 and while I managed to complete it I wouldn’t do it again. It did help my page views considerably and I actually did gain quite a lot of followers, but the content definitely isn’t my best work. I’m not saying I hate it, but there were multiple occasions where I was up till nearly midnight writing because I was just trying to jam in a post. It did teach me a lot about blogging and I am grateful for that, but never again!
Beth x

Great post. I definitely don’t have enough ideas to do posts for ever day, I would definitely get burnt out too. Interesting to hear it doesn’t increase stats as that would be the only reason I consider doing it!

Great post! to be honest for me, there was never any appeal to do these sorts of challenges, and this post literally just solidified that for me hahah. I agree with all the things you’ve said above, and I already know, without actually doing It, that doing something like blogmas would hinder rather than help me and my blog. It just seems way too stressful

Course it takes a lot of time and you 100% get tired in the end, but sometimes people do challenges just for fun. Others do it because they want to check themselves. Doable? Let’s try! That’s how they think.
They say: “Try once and you will now how it goes”

Great tips, I honestly don’t think I could ever do any of these blog challenges of blogging every day. I got worn out blogging 3 posts a week for 2 months, and the thought of posting every day for one month sounds like it would totally drain me. If I ever did it, I would have to pre-write all of the posts at least 4 months in advanced or something. I’d rather write quality posts over quantity though.

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Hi, I’m Jenny! Nice to meet you!

I'm a 26 year-old lifestyle blogger from Essex and I cover a whole bunch of topics from blogging advice, personal development, well-being, business and more! When I'm not blogging, you'll likely find me on my Yoga mat, reading a book or organizing something. I also love Motorsports, gaming, food and my dog.